Home | News | Road Tests Kia to share in joint focus on eco-friendly growth Kia's big SUV, the Borrego, is a fuel cell 'test bed' Home > News > Kia 9th August, 2009 Continuing Kia's commitment to 'eco-friendly' technologies Aiming to meet with global consumer demand for alternative fuel powered vehicles Kia will bring a raft of "eco-friendly" vehicles to market as part of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group's commitment to developing environmentally friendly technologies. Announcing more than USD 3 billion of investment (4 trillion Korean Won) in 'eco-friendly growth', the group has said it is aiming to become one of the world's top four manufacturers of low emission vehicles by 2012 - the date it has slated for the introduction of fuel cell electric vehicles on the Korean market. Kia will be fully involved in this process with petrol and diesel hybrid vehicles set to follow the European introduction of its emission-reducing cee'd ISG models within the next two years. Kia is also working on plug-in hybrids and has some of the most advanced fuel cell vehicles operating anywhere in the world. These vehicles will be exported within a few years of their introduction into the Korean domestic market. "The Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group is determined to bring affordable and usable green technology to consumers around the world," said Hyoung-Keun Lee, Senior Executive Vice President and COO of the International Business Division, Kia Motors Corporation. "Our introduction of cee'd ISG in Europe, Forte LPI in Korea and other environmentally friendly technologies clearly indicate our plans for a greener future." Kia has a dedicated environmental research and development facility at Mabuk in Korea, as well as one of the most environmentally friendly production plants in the Slovak Republic. As such, the company is poised to introduce new technologies that can be adapted into new and existing Kia vehicles. "Kia is determined to meet with demands from our consumers around the world. We expect the demand for environmentally friendly and low emission vehicles to pick up strongly as the global market emerges from the current recession," Mr. Lee added. Self-Catering Holiday Accommodation in Denmark, WA ..... more Kia already has fuel cell development vehicles operating in various locations including California and its latest-generation test bed is capable of covering more than 560 kilometres on a single charge of hydrogen and starting at temperatures as low as minus 25 degrees Centigrade (minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit), both essential for normal everyday use around the world. Kia and Hyundai are providing real-life test vehicles to various Government bodies in Korea and are committed to developing fuel cell vehicles that can be easily built on traditional production lines by 2015. The investment in eco-friendly technology represents a significant part of overall investment of USD 8 billion (9.3 trillion Korean Won) announced by the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group. About Kia Kia Motors Corporation was founded in 1944 and is Korea's oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. As part of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Kia aims to become one of the world's premier automotive brands. Nearly 1.5 million vehicles a year are produced in 13 manufacturing and assembly operations in eight countries which are then sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 172 countries. Kia has over 40,000 employees worldwide and annual revenues of over US$14.5 billion. Hear Chris Goodsell Talk Motoring On Radio & Internet ..... more More Kia News ..... here More alternative fuel vehicle news ..... here About | Car Clubs | Home | News | Road Ramblings | Road Tests | Subscribe | Top Drive ©   2009   All rights reserved.   Next Car Pty. Ltd.